We're thrilled to announce a huge new DataKind DataDive coming to DC from 3/15 - 3/17! This is a joint initiative with the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the UN Development Business, UN Global Pulse, and the Qatar Computing Research Institute to put a dent in some of the most serious problems in poverty and corruption through the use of data. Low bar, right?

We're calling on all socially conscious analysts, statisticians, data scientists, coders, hackers, designers, or eager-to-learn do-gooders to come out with us on the weekend of 3/15-3/17 to work with data to improve the world. You'll be working alongside experts in the field to analyze, visualize, and mashup the most cutting-edge data from the World Bank, UN, and other sources to improve poverty monitoring and root out corruption. The questions we'll be looking at in particular will be:

• Can we measure poverty differently (using non-traditional or proxy datasets), collect poverty data differently, or could you map poverty using new dimensions?

• Is it possible to determine which projects are likely to report new 'improper payment' (or fraud/corruption - in a limited sense of the word) cases within the next 12 months?  Can such an approach lead to better operational risk management in general.

You can sign up to use your data skills for the greater good with us right here, but we're excited to share that this is just one of multiple events being run by our partners to tackle these important problems!   The Data Dive on 3/15 - 3/17 is a part of the series of projects, events, and competitions to unearth key questions, explore data sources and take a fresh look at old problems for the benefit of those working on development projects.  Check out the blog post Can big data help deliver better operational results? describing the original idea and interesting take on contracts data highlighted in Big data and development organizations: What happens when you move from theory to practice?  The other events that will be helping tackle these problems include:

• An initial brainstorm in Vienna on the 22nd with UNDP and other partners!  Come help dream up what new datasets can best be used to track and eradicate poverty.  All of the results of this event will be available on this wiki.

• DataKind will be at the World Bank in DC for Open Data Day on 2/23. If you'll be in the area, come join us! We'll be eating pizza and digging into data all day alongside great groups like USAID and the White House, so drop in and help dive into data with us!

• During our DC Data Dive on 3/15-3/17,  we will continue to refine the questions, expand the data universe and look into possible options for early prototypes.

• Note: You do not have to attend the Vienna event on 2/22 or Open Data Day on 2/23 to attend the main DataDive on 3/15.

Phew. Excited yet? Yeah we are too! This is going to be a big one and we hope you'll all be there with us as we make the world a better place over the next 30 days. Sign up here and we'll see you there!